ANC calls for punishment against their own “assault/middle finger” MP

This ANC MP was seen threatening a female member of his own party, calling the DA racist and showing the middle finger. Now, the ANC is angry...

The events of Thursday evening in parliament left MPs shocked, no matter what side they were sitting on. ANC MP Mervyn Dirks sent shockwaves as he was seen threatening a female MP with assault.

Dirks also hurled insults across the chamber and was even caught on camera showing his middle finger to opposition members. To make matters even more confusing, the female MP that Dirks was seen threatening was from his own party.

Dirks also labelled the DA racist while MPs reacted with disbelief to his behaviour. While the opposition quickly called for his removal from the house, he was eventually removed for the middle finger incident.

On Friday afternoon, ANC MP Priscilla Mantashe, the MP that Dirks threatened, spoke out saying that Dirks insulted her, her late mother and her brother. Who is her brother? Well, none other than ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe.

The ANC has now put out a statement condemning the incident which occurred in parliament. The office of the ANC chief whip called Dirk’s behaviour “despicable and not in keeping with the image of parliament and the organisation he represents: the ANC.”

“The ANC Chief Whip has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly requesting an investigation into this incident. If found to be true, these actions cannot go unpunished.”

“We have also written to the Secretary General of the ANC to institute disciplinary action against this member. We believe that these actions amount to gross misconduct and bring the organisation into disrepute.”

The statement also called it “very regrettable” that a male member of parliament would threaten to assault a female member of parliament while observing 16 days of Activism Against Women and Child abuse.

The country will now await the ANC’s national decision as well as House Speaker Baleka Mbete. Will Dirks be able to stay on as a member of parliament or the ANC after this?